Damon Mcknight
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, with each state having its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The two territories are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mainland states | 6 |
| Names of the states | New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia |
| Number of territories | 10 |
| Number of internal territories | 3 |
| Names of the internal territories | Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Northern Territory |
| Number of external territories | 7 |
| Names of the external territories | Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island |
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What You'll Learn
Australia has six federated states
Australia is a union of six federated states. These states originated as separate British colonies prior to Federation in 1901. The six colonies of New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania (including Macquarie Island) became the founding states of the new Commonwealth of Australia.
Each state has its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies that administer and deliver public policies and programs. The states have the general power to make laws except in the few areas where the constitution grants the Commonwealth (the federal level of government) exclusive powers.
In addition to the six federated states, Australia also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory on the Australian mainland. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory operate indistinguishably from the states, with representation in the Parliament and the Senate. However, they do not have constitutional status as states, and their territorial legislation can be overridden.
The world's smallest continent, Australia has a mainland coastline of 32,994 kilometres (20,502 mi) and claims an exclusive economic zone of about 8,200,000 square kilometres (3,200,000 sq mi).
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The Northern Territory is similar to a state
Australia is divided into six states and two territories. The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The two territories are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory is an administrative division in northern Australia that is similar to a state. The Northern Territory has its own government, the Northern Territory Government, which appointed its first Minister for Statehood in 2006. The Northern Territory also has its own legislature, the Legislative Assembly, which comprises 19 elected members and has the power to legislate over areas such as health, education, land, mining, and local government.
The Northern Territory has representation in the Parliament and the Senate, similar to the states. The territory also has its own public and private schools, as well as a university. The Northern Territory's economy is largely based on mining and petroleum, which contributed significantly to the gross state product in 2018-2019.
Despite these similarities to a state, the Northern Territory does not have constitutional status as a state, and territorial legislation can be overridden by the federal government. The Northern Territory also receives a significant portion of its revenue from the Commonwealth, which has led to it being seen as a dependency of the Commonwealth. In a 1998 referendum, voters in the Northern Territory rejected a proposal to become a state, with concerns about the potential model for statehood.
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The Australian Capital Territory is a mainland territory
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) being one of the internal territories. The ACT is located in the southeastern Australian mainland as an enclave surrounded by the state of New South Wales. The territory was transferred to the federal government by New South Wales in 1911, two years prior to the capital city being founded and formally named Canberra in 1913. Canberra is the capital city of Australia and is situated within the territory, making up the majority of the territory's population.
The ACT is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments and museums, including the Parliament of Australia, the High Court of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, and the Australian Parliament House. The territory also hosts the majority of foreign embassies in Australia, as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups, and professional associations.
The ACT was the first mainland Australian jurisdiction to achieve 100% renewable energy supply and is on track to achieve zero net emissions by 2045. The territory has the highest number of electric vehicles and charging stations in Australia per capita. Canberra is one of the most liveable cities in the world, with a unique blend of nature and culture. It offers easy access to national parks, Australia's biggest snowfields in winter, and pristine beaches along the New South Wales south coast in summer.
The territory is governed by a locally elected legislative assembly, which has been in place since 1988. However, the Commonwealth maintains authority over the territory and can disallow or overturn local laws. The ACT has a continental climate with marked seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature, experiencing warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.
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$12.24 $18
States have their own constitutions
Australia is divided into six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. In addition to these six federated states, Australia also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The remaining seven are external territories.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory operate in a similar manner to the states, with representation in the Parliament and the Senate. However, they do not possess constitutional status as states, and their territorial legislation can be overridden.
The states originated as separate British colonies prior to Federation in 1901. Each state has its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. While the states are partially sovereign, they have ceded certain sovereign rights to the federal government. The states have the power to make laws except in areas where the constitution grants exclusive powers to the Commonwealth (the federal level of government). The Commonwealth's power over the states has increased over time due to a wider interpretation of its listed powers and the financial dependence of the states on Commonwealth grants.
Each state has its own unique characteristics and attractions. New South Wales offers a mix of wine regions, seaside villages, and mountain wilderness. Queensland boasts a thriving capital, Brisbane, with a rapidly growing population. South Australia is known for its laid-back atmosphere, arts scene, and festivals. Tasmania, an island state separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait, features breathtaking beaches, mountains, and rivers. Victoria includes the city of Melbourne, renowned for its food and wine culture. Lastly, Western Australia, the largest state, showcases natural wonders such as the Kimberley Region and Rottnest Island, along with urban attractions in its capital, Perth.
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The Colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788
Australia is divided into six federated states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. In addition, there are ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory.
During the 19th century, several new colonies were formed by separating them from the Colony of New South Wales, including the Colony of Tasmania (established in 1825), the Colony of Western Australia (established in 1829 as the Swan River Colony), the Province of South Australia (established in 1836), the Colony of New Zealand (established in 1841), the Victoria Colony (established in 1851), and the Colony of Queensland (established in 1859). In 1901, the Colony of New South Wales became a State of the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is now the most populous state in Australia. The capital, Sydney, is a major financial centre and host to international cultural and economic events.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has six federated states.
The six federated states of Australia are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Yes, Australia has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory on the Australian mainland.
The territories can be autonomous and administer local policies and programs like the states, but they are still legally subordinate to the federal government.
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia.
